Modi arrives in UAE; terror, trade talks on radar
18 Aug 2015 4:17 AM IST
“Hello UAE. I am very optimistic about this visit. I am confident the outcomes of the visit will boost India-UAE ties,” Modi said on his arrival. He also tweeted the message in Arabic.
The first Indian Prime Minister to visit the UAE in 34 years, Modi was received by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and his five brothers at the airport, in a departure from protocol. The last dignitary to be received by him was the King of Morocco in May this year.
Modi tweeted, “I deeply appreciate <g data-gr-id="63">kind</g> gesture of his Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who received me at the airport.” The Prime Minister was also accorded a ceremonial reception at the airport.
Clearly indicating his agenda for talks with the leadership on Monday, Modi had said in an interview to a local daily here that he wanted to see the UAE as India’s foremost partner in trade and in countering terrorism, noting that both the countries have a range of common security and strategic concerns in the region, including extremism.
Apart from discussions with the Crown Prince, who is also the Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Modi will also hold talks with Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on Monday.
“We have a range of common security and strategic concerns in the region, including terrorism and extremism. So India and UAE have everything to be a top priority for each other. This is the way I look at the UAE. The Gulf region is vital for India’s economic, energy and security interests,” he said in the interview.
Modi further said he was keen to foster a strategic partnership, particularly in the security, energy and investment sectors, with the fastest growing Arab economy and its visionary and pragmatic leadership.
Apart from seeking enhanced cooperation in energy and trade, Modi will look to reach out to investors to promote India as an attractive business destination.
Visit’s focus on trade and investments is also reflected in the fact that the Prime Minister will be attending a dinner hosted in his honour by Managing Director of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) Hamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
ADIA has USD 800 billion sovereign funds and India is expected to woo it to attract investments in the infrastructure sector. India-UAE trade, valued at USD 180 million (Dh 660.6 million) per annum in the 1970s, is today around USD 60 billion making the UAE, India’s third largest trading partner for the year 2014-15 after China and the US.
Given that late Indira Gandhi was the last Prime Minister to visit UAE in 1981, Modi’s visit is seen as an opportunity to boost India-UAE ties in key areas of trade and security.
Marvelling at the UAE’s spectacular achievements, Modi described the Gulf nation as a paradise built up in a desert with unmatched vision and remarkable skill.
“I have always thought, how this paradise could come up in a desert? What vision! What remarkable skill!” Modi said of the country.
After his arrival, Modi’s first public engagement will be to visit Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, a key place of worship in UAE and known as a masterpiece of Islamic architecture.
The mosque is the third largest in the world after the ones in Mecca and Madina in Saudi Arabia.
It is named after the founder and first President of the UAE, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Notably, a large portion of the 2.6 million Indians in the UAE are from Bihar and many are Muslims.
Modi will also interact with Indian workers at their camps I-CAD to know the problems they face and discuss ways Indian government can help them. The I-CAD Residential Labour Camp, housing thousands of migrant labourers from the Indian subcontinent in an area spread over one square kilometre.
50k people expected to attend Modi event
The Indian community in the UAE is eagerly waiting to hear and cheer Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a Madison Square-like event here on Monday that is expected to draw over 50,000 people.
Modi, <g data-gr-id="114">the the</g> first Indian premier to visit the oil-rich Arab nation in 34 years, will be accorded a rousing welcome by the community members at the reception to be held at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai Sports City.
About 50,000 Indians have registered for Modi’s public reception. Indian residents in Dubai said that they are eagerly awaiting Modi’s visit to the city. Several Indians living in Ajman, Umm Al <g data-gr-id="113">Quwaiin</g> and Ras Al Khaimah said that they are driving to Dubai to attend the event despite it being a working day.
“He is the pride of our nation,” Amit Soni, a resident of Dubai said.
Indian consul general here Anurag Bhushan hoped that Modi’s visit would be truly memorable. “I hope everyone will come with the national flag and celebrate in the spirit of our <g data-gr-id="115">brother-hood</g>,” he said.
Bhushan praised the efforts of the members of the Indian community in Dubai who are putting a lot of effort to make the event successful. The Indian Consulate has planned a cultural show to welcome Modi during the reception.
Although the stadium has an expanded capacity of 30,000, the authorities have made arrangements to accommodate more by covering the ground. Huge television screens have been installed outside the stadium for those who would not be able to go inside. The organisers have made elaborate arrangements to cool the stadium and the air-conditioning system will be switched on a day before to ensure the place is sufficiently cool on the day of the event, the report said.
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